IN THE run-up to the Melaka State Election this month, a regional delicacy is making waves in Kuala Linggi.
In this small town in Alor Gajah, the distinctive horseshoe crab draws adventurous food lovers while helping small-scale vendors eke out a living.
For Restoran Citarasa Belangkas owner Azizi Buyaman, the secret behind his restaurant’s unique flavours lies in the special culinary touch of his mother, Fauziah Mohd Yasin, who developed the recipes more than three decades ago.
He said his mother made a variety of flavourful horseshoe crab dishes, from creamy and spicy masak lemak cili padi to aromatic lemak berempah, fiery sambal and tangy asam pedas, each appealing to different tastes.
“I started selling the dishes on a small scale about 10 years ago, delivering them to customers including people in Melaka city.
“The response was good, and things slowly picked up until we finally have our own restaurant.
“We have customers who travel a long way just to enjoy our horseshoe crab dishes.
“For those who love it, the taste is unique and really appetising,” he told Bernama.
Azizi said customers could enjoy a horseshoe crab dish for between RM30 and RM35, with each serving feeding five to six people.
He said demand for horseshoe crab dishes usually picked up during school holidays, when sales could exceed 30 crabs a day, compared with 15 to 20 on regular days.
“We get fresh horseshoe crabs from local fishermen at the Kuala Linggi jetty and keep some frozen to make sure we have enough during the off-season.
“We have to be really careful when preparing horseshoe crab, making sure the poisonous parts are removed and everything is properly cleaned before cooking,” he added.
Apart from the horseshoe crab dishes, Azizi said the restaurant, which opens daily from 4.30pm to 11pm, is also known for its prawn noodles.
“With the Melaka State Election going on, we have also had several political parties ordering food for their campaign teams,” he said.
Polling is set for Nov 14, while early voting will take place from Nov 10.
